Out with the old and in with the new.

Well that may not always be the case. Some wedding trends stay around longer than others, and while we can anticipate there to be a slew of new trends making a fresh appearance in 2019, we will continue seeing some previous trends (and these ones, we love!) Either way, keeping on trend or not, find inspiration below to help you define your signature wedding style.

 

 

A STYLE OF THEIR OWN WITHOUT GIVING UP TRADITION

The Sweets

Although we have seen a shift towards the big wedding cakes heading out, most didn’t want to give up a cake tradition entirely. In 2018, these newly revamped cake styles were displayed on a bold linen, a light and bright dessert table or combined with every kind of sugary goodness you could think of.

 

Evelyn Vaughn (Photo)

Bit of Swiss (Baker) :: Christa Hitchcock (Photo) :: 1928 Rental: (Farmhouse Table) 

Froelich’s (Baker) :: Brick and Pine (Photo)

Bit of Swiss (Baker) :: 430 Studios (Photo)

 
 
The Guest book

Most couples are ditching the traditional guest book and coming up with their own personal touch to remember the guests that were able to attend their big day. Many of the guest books we saw in 2018 were ones that could be displayed in homes or incorporated into more of their daily life, rather than a traditional bounded book that might not be looked at much again after the wedding day.

 
 
Ceremony Locale

Grandma just doesn’t understand why you aren’t getting married in a church, but once she sees this, she will be very pleased! Having an on site ceremony is very convenient for your guests (and for you!) There isn’t extra driving to manage, no awkward down time in between ceremony and reception, you can re-purpose ceremony decor easily into the reception space and when all is said and done, more time to party!

Journeyman Distillery (Venue) :: Brick and Pine (Photo) :: Snapdragon Designs (Floral)

Private Residence (Venue) :: Jillian Bowes (Photo) 

First Look

The decision on whether bride and grooms should see each other pre-ceremony is always up for debate and in depth discussion. Besides asking yourself “is this for us?” this is a wedding day component that some are tweaking just a bit. Many are wanting to atleast have a “special moment” prior to the wedding, whether they are catching a glimpse of each other, holding hands from around the building corner or reading love letters to each other. As wedding planners, we have seen an increase in couples doing first looks for a variety of reasons: easier logistics and getting most photos checked off ahead of time so they can join in on the fun and cocktails after the ceremony!

Lauren Crawford (Photo)

Gingertown (Photo)

BIG BLOOMS

Bold Florals

Who doesn’t love a bold floral with greenery? (especially in super adorable wooden boxes) Greenery along with big-bloomed flowers are an impactful way to dress up dining tables as well as giving you a full luxurious bouquet. Can’t find room in the budget for these designs on 20 reception tables? It’s also worth filling in blank space at your ceremony or  draped from a ceiling.  It’s fresh and beautiful!

Kati Mallory (Photo) :: Flowers by Anna (Floral)

Kitty Lee (Photo) :: Black Dog Flower Farm (Floral)

Kati Mallory (Photo) :: Flowers by Anna (Floral)

Simplicity GR (Floral) :: 1928 Rental (Wine Barrel)

SETTING UP THE UNIQUE FACTOR

Everyone likes to have a little fun and give their guests the ‘wow factor’ at their wedding!  Looking for something unique? How about mini beach balls instead of birdseed or bubbles? Everyone loves a photo booth, especially this one on wheels!  A game of cornhole anyone? If the venue allows, let’s end this night with a sparkler send off!

 

THE DETAILS

Date: October 21, 2017

Venue: The Veranda at the Whitcomb (Reception), St. Joseph Catholic Church (Ceremony)

Inspired Theme: Kate Spade 

Color Scheme: Deep Red, Black, White, Gold

Design Inspiration: Bold flair, bright design, classic elegance

 

THE HIGHLIGHTS

Bride, Sarah has a beautiful eye for design and from our first conversations she expressed wanting to see the wedding style incorporate black and white stripes along with deep red accents. Designing weddings is one of our favorite services we can offer couples (check out our gallery!) but it isn’t every day that we have a bride come to us with such a bold take on wedding design. To not be afraid of color, patterns and texture – we were instantly excited to get those creative juices flowing. The theme quickly became coined as “Kate Spade” inspired and we found ways to create that same flair you’d see in the K.S. brand: exaggerated striped linens, pops of bright florals with little-to-no filler, gold and glitzy accents; the works. 

We’ve never seen a reception space be as transformed as this one was. The gold chiavari chairs lend a huge hand in Sarah + Casey’s desire for a touch of classic elegance into the otherwise bold design. The ceiling lit up with cafe bistro lights and glowing lanterns when the sun set over Lake Michigan. Are you dreaming of those sunsets like we are, as we right this in snow fall?

S + C wanted to create a mingling dinner atmosphere, so guests visited different food stations and tried something for every taste bud: build your own mashed potato bar, mac + cheese with brisket, taco station with guacamole. YUM.

The planning of the bar service and dessert are just as important. They chose signature drinks “The Casey” and “The Sarah” as well as desserts for days: cherry pie, cake pop bites, apple cider donuts, s’mores station. YUM, YUM.

Regardless of your design style, be it neutral or bold, there is something to be said about the details they incorporated to make their wedding design theme strong and cohesive from each element to the next. 

 

THE VENDORS

Photography: Bobbi Photo

Design, Coordination, Rentals: 1928 Planning Co.

Lighting: Schades of Light

Floral: Stella Event Design

Reception Chairs: Taylor Rental Party Plus

Baker: Christine’s Confections, CK Catering